Testicular differentiation factor SF-1 is required for human spleen development (original) (raw)
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The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2007
Context-Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1/AdBP4/FTZF1, NR5A1) is a nuclear receptor transcription factor that plays a key role in regulating adrenal and gonadal development, steroidogenesis, and reproduction. Targeted deletion of Nr5a1 (Sf1) in the mouse results in adrenal and gonadal agenesis, XY sex-reversal, and persistent Müllerian structures in males. Consistent with the murine phenotype, human mutations in SF1 were described initially in two 46,XY individuals with female external genitalia, Müllerian structures (uterus) and primary adrenal failure.
Endocrinology, 2012
Human DAX1 duplications cause dosage-sensitive sex reversal (DSS) whereby chromosomally XY individuals can develop as females due to gonadal dysgenesis. However, the mechanism of DSS-adrenal hypoplasia congenita on X, gene 1 (DAX1) action in the fetal testis is unknown. We show that in fetal testes from XY Dax1-overexpressing transgenic mice, the expression of the key testis-promoting gene sex-determining region on Y (SRY)-box-9 (Sox9) is reduced. Moreover, in XY Sox9 heterozygotes, in which testis development is usually normal, Dax1 overexpression results in ovotestes, suggesting a DAX1-SOX9 antagonism. The ovarian portion of the XY ovotestes was characterized by expression of the granulosa cell marker, Forkhead box-L2, with complete loss of the Sertoli cell markers, SOX9 and anti-Müllerian hormone, and the Leydig cell marker CYP17A1. However, the expression of SRY and steroidogenic factor-1 (SF1), two key transcriptional regulators of Sox9, was retained in the ovarian portion of t...
Multifunctional role of steroidogenic factor 1 and disorders of sex development
Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia, 2011
Disorders of sex development (DSD) involve several conditions that result from abnormalities during gonadal determination and differentiation. Some of these disorders may manifest at birth by ambiguous genitalia; others are diagnosed only at puberty, by the delayed onset of secondary sexual characteristics. Sex determination and differentiation in humans are processes that involve the interaction of several genes such as WT1, NR5A1, NR0B1, SOX9, among others, in the testicular pathway, and WNT4, DAX1, FOXL2 and RSPO1, in the ovarian pathway. One of the major proteins in mammalian gonadal differentiation is the steroidogenic nuclear receptor factor 1 (SF1). This review will cover some of the most recent data on SF1 functional roles and findings related to mutations in its coding gene, NR5A1. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2011;55(8):607-12
European Journal of Endocrinology, 2014
Objective: Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1, NR5A1) is a key transcriptional regulator of genes 33 involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Recently, SF-1 mutations were found to 34 be a frequent cause of 46,XY DSD in humans. We investigate the frequency of NR5A1 35 mutations in an Egyptian cohort of XY,DSD. 36 37 Design: Clinical assessment, endocrine evaluation and genetic analysis of 50 Egyptian 38 XY,DSD patients (without adrenal insufficiency) with a wide phenotypic spectrum. 39 40 Methods: Molecular analysis of NR5A1 gene by direct sequencing followed by in vitro 41 functional analysis of the two novel missense mutations detected. 42 43 Results: Three novel heterozygous mutations of the coding region in patients with 44 hypospadias were detected. p.Glu121AlafsX25 results in severely truncated protein, 45 p.Arg62Cys lies in DNA-binding zinc finger whereas p.Ala154Thr lies in the hinge region of 46 SF-1 protein. Transactivation assays using reporter constructs carrying promoters of AMH, 47 CYP11A1 and Tesco core enhancer of Sox9 showed that p.Ala154Thr and p.Arg62Cys 48 mutations result in aberrant biological activity of NR5A1. Seventeen patients (34%) harboured 49 the p.Gly146Ala polymorphism. 50 51 Conclusion: We identified two novel NR5A1 mutations showing impaired function in 23 52
Human mutation, 2018
Nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1/Steroidogenic factor 1 (NR5A1; SF-1; Ad4BP) mutations cause 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD), with phenotypes ranging from developmentally mild (e.g. hypospadias) to severe (e.g. complete gonadal dysgenesis). The molecular mechanism underlying this spectrum is unclear. During sex determination, SF-1 regulates SOX9 [SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9] expression. We hypothesized that SF-1 mutations in 46,XY DSD patients affect SOX9 expression via the Testis-specific Enhancer of Sox9 core element, TESCO. Our objective was to assess the ability of twenty SF-1 mutants found in 46,XY DSD patients to activate TESCO. Patient DNA was sequenced for SF-1 mutations and mutant SF-1 proteins were examined for transcriptional activity, protein expression, sub-cellular localization and in silico structural defects. Fifteen of the twenty mutants showed reduced SF-1 activation on TESCO, 11 with atypical sub-cellular localization. Fourteen SF-1 ...
Human molecular genetics, 2016
Cell lineages of the early human gonad commit to one of the two mutually antagonistic organogenetic fates, the testis or the ovary. Some individuals with a 46,XX karyotype develop testis or ovotestis (testis or ovotesticular disorder of sex development; TDSD/OTDSD), due to the presence of the testis-determining gene, SRY Other rare complex syndromic forms of TDSD/OTDSD are associated with mutations in pro-ovarian genes that repress testis development (e.g. WNT4); however, the genetic cause of the more common non-syndromic forms is unknown. Steroidogenic factor-1 (known as NR5A1) is a key regulator of reproductive development and function. Loss-of-function changes in NR5A1 in 46,XY individuals are associated with a spectrum of phenotypes in humans ranging from a lack of testis formation to male infertility. Mutations in NR5A1 in 46,XX women are associated with primary ovarian insufficiency, which includes a lack of ovary formation, primary and secondary amenorrhoea as well as early m...
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2004
Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) regulates multiple genes involved in the adrenal and gonadal development and in the biosynthesis of a variety of hormones, including adrenal and gonadal steroids, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and gonadotropins. We identified a novel SF-1 mutation in a 27-yr-old Japanese patient with a 46,XY karyotype. Sequence analysis was performed for all the seven exons of SF-1, revealing a heterozygous single base pair deletion at exon 2 (18delC) that is predicted to cause a frameshift at the sixth codon and resultant termination at the 74th codon. Functional studies showed that the mutation produced no demonstrable protein and had no transcription activity or dominant negative effect. Clinical features included small dysgenetic testes with vasa deferentia and epididymides, absent uterus, blind-ending vagina, clitoromegaly, and psychosexual disturbance. Endocrine studies showed normal adrenal function (cortisol response to ACTH stimulation, 13.4→25.3 μg/dl) and pri...
NR5A1 is a novel disease gene for 46,XX testicular and ovotesticular disorders of sex development
Genetics in Medicine, 2017
We aimed to identify the genetic cause in a cohort of 11 unrelated cases and two sisters with 46,XX SRY-negative (ovo)testicular disorders of sex development (DSD). Methods: Whole-exome sequencing (n = 9), targeted resequencing (n = 4), and haplotyping were performed. Immunohistochemistry of sex-specific markers was performed on patients' gonads. The consequences of mutation were investigated using luciferase assays, localization studies, and RNA-seq. Results: We identified a novel heterozygous NR5A1 mutation, c.274C>T p.(Arg92Trp), in three unrelated patients. The Arg92 residue is highly conserved and located in the Ftz-F1 region, probably involved in DNA-binding specificity and stability. There were no consistent changes in transcriptional activation or subcellular localization. Transcriptomics in patient-derived lymphocytes showed upregulation of MAMLD1, a direct NR5A1 target previously associated with 46,XY DSD. In gonads of affected individuals, ovarian FOXL2 and testicular SRY-independent SOX9 expression observed. Conclusions: We propose NR5A1, previously associated with 46,XY DSD and 46,XX primary ovarian insufficiency, as a novel gene for 46,XX (ovo)testicular DSD. We hypothesize that p.(Arg92Trp) results in decreased inhibition of the male developmental pathway through downregulation of female antitestis genes, thereby tipping the balance toward testicular differentiation in 46,XX individuals. In conclusion, our study supports a role for NR5A1 in testis differentiation in the XX gonad.
Failure of SOX9 Regulation in 46XY Disorders of Sex Development with SRY, SOX9 and SF1 Mutations
PLoS ONE, 2011
Background: In human embryogenesis, loss of SRY (sex determining region on Y), SOX9 (SRY-related HMG box 9) or SF1 (steroidogenic factor 1) function causes disorders of sex development (DSD). A defining event of vertebrate sex determination is male-specific upregulation and maintenance of SOX9 expression in gonadal pre-Sertoli cells, which is preceded by transient SRY expression in mammals. In mice, Sox9 regulation is under the transcriptional control of SRY, SF1 and SOX9 via a conserved testis-specific enhancer of Sox9 (TES). Regulation of SOX9 in human sex determination is however poorly understood. Methodology/Principal Findings: We show that a human embryonal carcinoma cell line (NT2/D1) can model events in presumptive Sertoli cells that initiate human sex determination. SRY associates with transcriptionally active chromatin in NT2/D1 cells and over-expression increases endogenous SOX9 expression. SRY and SF1 cooperate to activate the human SOX9 homologous TES (hTES), a process dependent on phosphorylated SF1. SOX9 also activates hTES, augmented by SF1, suggesting a mechanism for maintenance of SOX9 expression by auto-regulation. Analysis of mutant SRY, SF1 and SOX9 proteins encoded by thirteen separate 46,XY DSD gonadal dysgenesis individuals reveals a reduced ability to activate hTES. Conclusions/Significance: We demonstrate how three human sex-determining factors are likely to function during gonadal development around SOX9 as a hub gene, with different genetic causes of 46,XY DSD due a common failure to upregulate SOX9 transcription.